Macquarie Anglican Grammar School

Thank you all for an incredible term.

Term 1 2022 has brought with it a range of challenges and joys. I am so very thankful for our incredible staff and the professional and creative ways they have solved the challenges put before them whilst still providing our students with an outstanding education. The joys have been found in the big and the small of the term. The wonderful efforts of our swimmers and livestock show team members and the fantastic learning that has taken place inside and outside our classrooms this term. I wish all of our community, students, families and staff a wonderful restful break.

I look forward to our return on Tuesday 26th April. I do invite students to join us at the Anzac marches in Dubbo, Wellington or Narromine, in full school uniform on Anzac Day. Mrs Job has included further information and a link to register your child’s attendance in her article in this newsletter.

As we enter this Easter week I would like to share with you one of my favourite passages of Scripture from the Gospel of Luke. In this passage a group of Jesus’ disciples walk with him over an extended period soon after his resurrection and they to not recognise him. He has a meal with them and breaks bread with them and all becomes clear to them. They then return to their friends and share what happened.

They were lost, sad and confused and Jesus cared for them, ate with them and made himself known to them. The Christian Gospel at its core is this message. Jesus is there ready and waiting to have a relationship with you and through him you will have a relationship with his Father the God of the universe for ever. If you call out to Him he will answer. This gift of love is the best possible gift anyone can ever receive.

Luke 24:13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.

17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

19 “What things?” he asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So, he went in to stay with them.

30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

I pray you have a safe and blessed Easter and I hope you may take time to explore this gift of love through attending one of our wonderful Christian Churches this Easter. 

- Craig Mansour